We have only had the pleasure of seeing this historical advertisement in the Kirin Museum. Printed in 1928, this historically significant item is almost 100 years old.
It features an astonishingly beautiful Geisha in a traditional Kimono serving a bottle of Kirin beer. The iconic bottle and Kirin dragon logo are kept steady by her porcelain white left hand.
This poster is 96 years old. The condition of this poster is excellent for its age. The poster was previously folded and subsequently stored flat. There is some water staining on the top and bottom edge of the poster, however this does not affect the beauty of the image itself.
Please refer to the imagery provided as this is the exact poster for sale.
Certificate of Authenticity Included.
Pre-War Japanese beer posters: A testament to timeless beauty?
Japanese beer culture has seen a remarkable transformation in the last two decades. Before 1994, breweries in Japan were required to produce a minimum of 528,000 gallons annually to obtain a license, a rule designed to favor long-established corporations. A similar regulatory landscape still persists in Korea, contributing to the dominance of bland offerings like Hite, Cass, and OB.
While Japan's contemporary beer scene flourishes, its advertising's golden era lies in the past — specifically, before World War II. During this time, advertisements relied on meticulous hand-drawn illustrations for their allure.
Brands such as Asahi, Kirin, and Sapporo, though not known for their bold flavors then, employed visually captivating imagery in their posters and postcards to promote their products.
The early advertising featured kimono-clad geishas, appealing to both local consumers and export markets across Asia and beyond.
Today, a thriving market exists for these vintage advertising pieces and their meticulously reproduced prints suitable for framing. Enthusiasts who delve into this world often discover that iconic images, like the 'Asahi girl,' frequently appeared in posters for other brands like Sapporo."
H206